Domestic abuse case procedures examined

Davidson County District Attorney Torry Johnson, above, met last week with presiding General Sessions Judge Bill Higgins to discuss the controversial case of a domestic assault suspect who got out of jail early June 8 and was charged with attacking his girlfriend a second time the same morning.
(Photo:
Jae S. Lee / File / The Tennessean
)

Changes to the way Nashville judges handle domestic abuse cases could be announced by the end of the week.

Davidson County District Attorney Torry Johnson met last week with presiding General Sessions Judge Bill Higgins to discuss the controversial case of a domestic assault suspect who got out of jail early June 8 and was charged with attacking his girlfriend a second time the same morning.

Higgins said his meeting with Johnson helped lay the groundwork for some changes that would "impact" Davidson County policy surrounding the 12-hour hold.

Judges are discussing those changes this week. Specific details on their scope will be released in a few days, according to Warner Hassell, administrator of the Davidson County General Sessions Court.

Outrage began swirling after officials learned that defense attorney Bryan Lewis called General Sessions Judge Casey Moreland on the morning of June 8 to get domestic abuse suspect David A. Chase out of jail in three hours, bypassing the 12-hour "cooling-off" period allowed by law.

Once he was released, Chase attacked his girlfriend for a second time, according to court records.

He was arrested again June 9 on charges of aggravated assault by strangulation, vandalism and interference with a 911 call.

Chase's 12-hour hold was waived for a second time after that arrest, this time by Night Court Commissioner Thomas Nelson. Nelson hasn't responded to multiple messages left at his office by The Tennessean.

Chase is the executive vice president of D.F. Chase Inc., a Nashville-based general contractor that is expected to build the new Virgin Hotel planned on Music Row. But his criminal charges have complicated his role with the project.